Scalise in on shutdown talks with Democrats, Obama

Kelly ConnellyLaPolitics News Service

Monday

Oct 14, 2013 at 7:37 PM

BATON ROUGE — As the federal government nears its third week running with little more than bare bones operations, the congressman who represents the bulk of Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes is among 20 GOP lawmakers negotiating directly with President Barack Obama and Democratic leadership.

BATON ROUGE — As the federal government nears its third week running with little more than bare bones operations, the congressman who represents the bulk of Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes is among 20 GOP lawmakers negotiating directly with President Barack Obama and Democratic leadership.U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Metairie, is at the core of the debate that finds Congress and the White House knocking heads over several issues, namely the budget for the current fiscal year that started Oct. 1. Failure to pass it left the government unfunded, thus triggering the shutdown. Other issues include extending the government's statutory limit on how much debt it can hold and delaying implementation of parts of the Affordable Care Act.Scalise has a seat at the negotiating table in his capacity as chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a policy think tank for the party's more conservative members in the House. He represented the group at a key meeting at the White House Thursday.Regarding the meeting, Scalise said in a statement, “While we have real disagreements on solving our nation's problems, I am glad President Obama has finally agreed to meet with us to start negotiating our differences so we can find real solutions.”Congressmen have to find a way to extend the debt limit by Oct. 17 or risk damaging the economy with a federal default on the debt. In response, the Republican leadership presented a plan to extend the nation's debt limit, formally appoint negotiators and initiate steps to re-open the government.“We had a useful conversation with President Obama,” Scalise said. “While there are some clear areas where we disagree, both sides are continuing this conversation as we work to solve our nation's spending problems.”Scalise's power in Washington has been growing over the past year. For example, he's one of five conservative lawmakers who make up a group that has been dubbed “The Jedi Council,” which includes Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the former vice presidential hopeful. The group played an important role in the last debate over the federal debt limit.Scalise is also the vice chairman of the Energy and Power Subcommittee.Playing a role in successful negotiations, which stalled over the weekend, could make Scalise even more important in the House leadership.The Republican Study Committee has its own plan for this year's budget, which would, the group claims, help lead to a balanced budget in four years. It cuts $980 billion in discretionary spending, among other provisions.Scalise's group also presented the American Health Care Reform Act, legislation that would remake the president's health care reforms. The group hopes the legislation, which serves as an alternative to the Affordable Care Act, will lead to a more competitive insurance marketplace, triggering lower rates.There has been some talk that Scalise could fill a seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee being vacated by another Louisiana representative, Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman. Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, will make the appointment. Scalise, however, is of the opinion that Louisiana may not get that seat back — and it won't necessarily be a major blow.“We can survive that,” Scalise said in an earlier interview. “With all of the earmark reforms and other changes that have come about, being on Appropriations isn't the perk it used to be. But there are other ways we can build clout.”Scalise has been in Congress since 2008.

Jeremy Alford contributed to this report.

Kelly Connelly can be reached at KC@LaPolitics.com.

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